sargent



(No Model.) SSheets-Sheet 1 r J. T. SARGENT.

WASHBOARD.

No. 556,560. Patented Mar. 17, 1896.

Fini ANDREW EGRANAM. PHUTO-UTMRWASNINGTONJ C,

(No Model.)

J. T. SARGENT. WASHBOARD.

Patented Mar. 17, 1896.

3 Sheets-Sheet 2.

INVENTOR,

(No Model.) 3 Sheets-Sheet 3.

J. T. SARGENT.

WASHBOARD.

No. 555,550. Patented Mar. 17, 1896.

' Pilaf.

WITNESSES: I INVENTOR,

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JAMES T. SARGENT, OF CLEVELAND, OHIO, ASSIGNOR TO THE AMERICAN IVASHBOARD COMPANY, OF SAME PLACE.

WASHBOARD.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 556,560, dated March 17, 1896.

Applicatioi filed March 29,1895.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JAMES T. SARGENT, a citizen of the United States, residing at Cleveland, in the county of Cuyahoga and State of Ohio, have invented or discovered certain new and useful Improvements in Washboards, of which improvements the following is a specification.

The invention described herein relates to certain improvements in washboards, and has for its object the arrangement of a soap box or receptacle above the head -piece of the washboard-frame, in which position it will effectually be protected from water and the sides of the soap-boxwill serve as a protector for the clothes of the operator.

It is a further object of the invention to provide for the adjustment of the soap-box from a position of use to such a position relative to the frame as will permit of the compact arrangement of a number of boards for storage and transportation and a protection of the box from injury.

The invention is hereinafter more fully described and claimed.

In the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification, Figures 1 and 2 are sectional and end elevations, respectively, of a washboard embodying my invention and illustrating a manner of adjusting the soapbox to its positions for use or storage. Fig. 2 is a sectional elevation of the construction shown in Figs. 1 and 2, showing the soap-box in its lowered or folded position. Figs. 3 and at are perspective and sectional elevations, respectively, illustrating a modification in the manner of adjusting the soap-box. Figs. 5 and 6 are views, similar to Figs. 3 and 4, of a further modification in the manner of adjusting the soap-box; and Fig. 7 is a sectional elevation showing the box in position for transportation or storage.

The washboard consists of the head-piece 1, side bars 2, cross-bar 3, brand-board 4, and rubbing face or faces 5, said parts being constructed and secured together in the usual or any suitable manner.

The head-piece 1 forms the bottom of the soap-box, which consists of the sides 7, arranged on opposite sides of the head-piece and Serial No. 543,665. (No model.)

held in proper relation to each other by end plates 9, preferably formed of metal.

In order to protect the soap box or receptacle from injury during transportation or storage, and also render possible a more compact arrangement of the washboards for shipment, I provide for the lowering of the soap box or receptacle to such position that the upper edges of the box will not project above the head-piece, as shown in Figs. 1 and 2. To this end the sides 7 are arranged to slide along the head-piece and bear more or less firmly against the edges of the head-piece when the box is raised to operative position.

To afford easy access to the soap, the box is made with outwardly-inclined sides and the edges of the head-piece are similarly inclined, as shown by dotted lines in Fig. 2. The sides '7 of the box are made of such a length that the end plates 9 will move outside of the side bars as the boxis raised or lowered.

The box is held in position for use by means of a movable shoulder 10, formed at the end of springs attached to the side bars of the frame, said springs also serving to hold the box when lowered by engagement of the shoulder 11 with recesses 11 in the end plates.

In the construction shown in Figs. 3, 4:, 5, 6, and 7 provision is made for closing the opening between the side bars, cross-bar, and

bottom of the soap-box when raised by means of removable board 12 or 12 ,which serves to hold the soap-box in position for use. In the construction shown in Figs. 3 and 4 the brandboard 12 is removable through avertical slot in one of the side bars, while in the construction shown in Figs. 5, 6, and 7 the brandboard 12 is removable laterally from between the side bars.

In the construction shown in Figs. 3, 4, 5, 6 and 7 the sides 7 of the box are attached to a strip 9 of a length approximately equal to the distance between the inner faces of the side bars. This strip, which may be made continuous or in sections, bears when the box is raised against the under side of the head, but rests when the box is lowered on the cross bar 3.

As shown in Figs. 3 and 4:, the brand-board is utilized not only for supporting the soapbox in position for use, but also for holding the box in its lowered position. In order to shift the box from one to the other position, the brand-board is moved longitudinally out of line with the stop-strip 9, thereby permittin g of the raising or lowering of the box, and when the latter has been shifted to the desired position the brand-board is shoved back into its normal position. In order to prevent the brand-board from dropping out it is provided with a stop 13 in the form of a transversely-arranged pin.

In the construction shown in Figs. 5, 6 and '7 the brand-board is removed and the box lowered, so as to permit of a compact arrangement of a number of washboards for trans portation or storage, the brand-boards being arranged in such package on the rubbingfaces. When the washboards are placed on sale or in use, the soap-box is raised and the brand-board forced laterally into the opening below the soap-box, the brand-board being preferably made a trifle wide, so that force is required to place it in position, and it will be firmly held in such position.

As shown in Figs. 4, 6 and 7, grooves ll are are formed in the under side of the stop-strip 9 and in the upper side of the cross-bar for the reception of the edges of the branchboard, which will, in the construction shown in Figs. 3 and 4, hold the soap-box from lateral movement.

In the construction shown in Figs. 5, 6 and 7 the brand-board will be held from lateral movement by the groove.

I11 the constructions shown in Figs. 6, 7, 8, 9 and 10 the box is preferably made without end pieces, the sides 7 being held in proper relation to each other by transverse braces 15.

It is characteristic of my improvement that the bottom of the soap box or receptacle, when in position for use, is formed by the headpiece of the frame of the washboard.

I claim herein as my invention 1. The combination of a washboard and a soap box or receptacle mounted on the frame movable from a position below the head-piece to aposition for use above thehead-piece, substantially as set forth.

2. The combination of a washboard and a soap box or receptacle mounted on the frame movable from a position for use above the head-piece of the washboard-frame, to a position below the head-piece and a lock for holding the box in a position for use, substantially as set forth.

The combination of a washboard, a soap box or receptacle mounted on the frame movable from a position for use above the headpiece of the washboard-frame to a position below the head-piece, and a movable brandboard for holding the soap-box in a position for use, substantially as set forth.

l. The combination of a washboard, a soap box or receptacle mounted 011 the frame movable from a position for use above the headpiece of the washboard-frame to a position below the head-piece, and a movable brandboard adapted to be inserted into the brandboard space above and below the bottom of the soap-box and holding the box in its different positions, substantially as set forth.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand.

JAME. T. SARGENT. Witnesses:

PETER J. J OECKEN, E. C. HASTINGS. 

